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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

69210 in Delaware

Office / nonfacility

$47.32

Base rate per service

Facility setting

$26.86

Base rate per service

Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.

Otolaryngology procedure

About 69210: Instrumental removal of impacted cerumen, one ear

Report instrumental removal of impacted cerumen from an ear canal under direct visualization when the wax obstructs examination or requires clinical treatment.

Code 69210 covers removal of impacted cerumen from the external auditory canal with an instrument under direct visualization. A physician or other qualified health care professional may use a curette, loop, forceps, or suction while viewing the canal with an otoscope, headlight, or microscope. The wax may obstruct assessment of the tympanic membrane or cause hearing loss, ear fullness, or discomfort. Primary care clinicians and otolaryngologists commonly perform this service in offices; it may also occur in facility settings.

Report 69210 for instrumental removal of an impaction; use 69209 when irrigation or lavage alone clears it. Document the impaction, ear or ears treated, instruments, and findings after removal. Medicare prices 69210 as bilateral, so report one unit when both ears are treated; modifier 50 does not increase payment. Routine same-day pre- and post-procedure care is included in its 0-day global period; a significant, separately identifiable E/M requires modifier 25 on the E/M code. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction are paid at 50%. Assistant at surgery is not paid; co-surgeon and team-surgery billing are not permitted.

CMS billing rules for 69210

Global period
Minor procedure with a 0-day global period: same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included.
Multiple procedures
Standard multiple procedure reduction: the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50% when performed in the same session.
Bilateral procedures
The code is already priced as bilateral; modifier 50 does not increase payment.
Assistant at surgery
Statutory restriction: assistant at surgery is not paid.
Co-surgeons
Co-surgeons not permitted.
Team surgery
Team surgery not permitted.

Where the value comes from

  • Work RVU0.59 · 41%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU0.77 · 54%
  • Malpractice RVU0.07 · 5%

1.5M

Medicare services in 2024 · #106 by national volume

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

69210 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Delaware, from the same CMS release.

69209

Earwax removal

Irrigation or lavage

$16.80

69209 is for removal by irrigation or lavage alone. 69210 requires instrumental removal, such as with a curette, forceps, or suction, under direct visualization.

G0268

Earwax removal

Same-day audiologic testing

$49.93

G0268 describes a physician's removal of impacted cerumen on the same date as audiologic function testing. It is not an irrigation-only counterpart to 69210.

69200

Ear canal removal

Without general anesthesia

$80.95

69200 is for extracting a foreign object, such as a bead or insect, from the external ear canal without general anesthesia. Use 69210 for instrumental removal of impacted cerumen.

69220

Mastoid cleaning

Simple cavity cleaning

$77.65

69220 is for simple debridement of a surgically created mastoid cavity. 69210 removes impacted wax from the external auditory canal.

The same code, a different location

How does Delaware compare?

69210 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Delaware · This locality

    $47.32

  2. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty)

    $52.49

    $5.17 higher than Delaware

  3. Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    $53.67

    $6.35 higher than Delaware

  4. Miami

    $52.39

    $5.07 higher than Delaware

  5. Chicago

    $51.06

    $3.74 higher than Delaware

  6. Manhattan

    $54.56

    $7.24 higher than Delaware

  7. Alaska*

    $58.24

    $10.92 higher than Delaware

Other payment areas listed in Delaware appear first, followed by selected cross-country examples. The chart compares amounts, not distance.

Across 109 of 109 CMS payment localities with a supported office rate, 69210 ranges from $43.00 in Arkansas to $60.21 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty). This is a geographic range, not an average.

The code’s RVUs stay the same in these comparisons. Geographic adjustments to work, practice expense and malpractice change the dollar amount. A city name alone may not identify the payment area for a service address.

Compare all 108 other payment areas

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 69210

    Office

    $43.53

    Facility

    $25.41

    $3.79 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 69210

    Office

    $43.00

    Facility

    $25.21

    $4.32 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 69210

    Office

    $46.63

    Facility

    $26.56

    $0.69 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Bakersfield

    California · 69210

    Office

    $49.69

    Facility

    $27.00

    $2.37 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Chico

    California · 69210

    Office

    $49.48

    Facility

    $26.79

    $2.16 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • El Centro

    California · 69210

    Office

    $49.49

    Facility

    $26.80

    $2.17 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Fresno

    California · 69210

    Office

    $49.48

    Facility

    $26.79

    $2.16 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Hanford-Corcoran

    California · 69210

    Office

    $49.48

    Facility

    $26.79

    $2.16 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Madera

    California · 69210

    Office

    $49.48

    Facility

    $26.79

    $2.16 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Merced

    California · 69210

    Office

    $49.48

    Facility

    $26.79

    $2.16 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 69210

    Office

    $49.48

    Facility

    $26.79

    $2.16 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 69210

    Office

    $56.03

    Facility

    $28.74

    $8.71 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 69210

    Office

    $52.11

    Facility

    $27.64

    $4.79 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 69210

    Office

    $49.48

    Facility

    $26.79

    $2.16 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 69210

    Office

    $49.48

    Facility

    $26.79

    $2.16 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 69210

    Office

    $50.24

    Facility

    $27.55

    $2.92 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 69210

    Office

    $51.58

    Facility

    $27.50

    $4.26 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 69210

    Office

    $51.38

    Facility

    $27.38

    $4.06 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 69210

    Office

    $52.32

    Facility

    $27.56

    $5.00 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 69210

    Office

    $58.92

    Facility

    $29.72

    $11.60 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)

    California · 69210

    Office

    $58.84

    Facility

    $29.64

    $11.52 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)

    California · 69210

    Office

    $60.21

    Facility

    $30.35

    $12.89 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)

    California · 69210

    Office

    $59.89

    Facility

    $30.03

    $12.57 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 69210

    Office

    $50.59

    Facility

    $27.00

    $3.27 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 69210

    Office

    $52.62

    Facility

    $27.46

    $5.30 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 69210

    Office

    $51.50

    Facility

    $27.35

    $4.18 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 69210

    Office

    $53.13

    Facility

    $27.70

    $5.81 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 69210

    Office

    $49.48

    Facility

    $26.79

    $2.16 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 69210

    Office

    $55.92

    Facility

    $28.62

    $8.60 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 69210

    Office

    $49.48

    Facility

    $26.79

    $2.16 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 69210

    Office

    $49.48

    Facility

    $26.79

    $2.16 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 69210

    Office

    $49.13

    Facility

    $27.10

    $1.81 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 69210

    Office

    $50.63

    Facility

    $28.33

    $3.31 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 69210

    Office

    $49.99

    Facility

    $29.01

    $2.67 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 69210

    Office

    $47.81

    Facility

    $28.01

    $0.49 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 69210

    Office

    $48.70

    Facility

    $27.66

    $1.38 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 69210

    Office

    $45.43

    Facility

    $26.96

    $1.89 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 69210

    Office

    $50.30

    Facility

    $26.76

    $2.98 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 69210

    Office

    $44.17

    Facility

    $25.22

    $3.15 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 69210

    Office

    $44.47

    Facility

    $25.42

    $2.85 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 69210

    Office

    $48.08

    Facility

    $29.02

    $0.76 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 69210

    Office

    $46.84

    Facility

    $27.94

    $0.48 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 69210

    Office

    $50.40

    Facility

    $29.13

    $3.08 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 69210

    Office

    $44.68

    Facility

    $25.49

    $2.64 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 69210

    Office

    $44.13

    Facility

    $25.41

    $3.19 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 69210

    Office

    $44.71

    Facility

    $26.30

    $2.61 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 69210

    Office

    $46.56

    Facility

    $27.08

    $0.76 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 69210

    Office

    $44.71

    Facility

    $26.38

    $2.61 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 69210

    Office

    $53.30

    Facility

    $28.58

    $5.98 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 69210

    Office

    $48.97

    Facility

    $27.16

    $1.65 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 69210

    Office

    $50.51

    Facility

    $28.29

    $3.19 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 69210

    Office

    $48.08

    Facility

    $27.12

    $0.76 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 69210

    Office

    $44.82

    Facility

    $25.77

    $2.50 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 69210

    Office

    $46.67

    Facility

    $26.15

    $0.65 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 69210

    Office

    $48.47

    Facility

    $28.48

    $1.15 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 69210

    Office

    $45.83

    Facility

    $26.92

    $1.49 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 69210

    Office

    $46.86

    Facility

    $25.55

    $0.46 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 69210

    Office

    $46.14

    Facility

    $26.70

    $1.18 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 69210

    Office

    $46.53

    Facility

    $26.82

    $0.79 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 69210

    Office

    $44.15

    Facility

    $26.30

    $3.17 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 69210

    Office

    $43.58

    Facility

    $25.75

    $3.74 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 69210

    Office

    $47.76

    Facility

    $27.05

    $0.44 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 69210

    Office

    $45.20

    Facility

    $25.88

    $2.12 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 69210

    Office

    $46.37

    Facility

    $25.67

    $0.95 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 69210

    Office

    $44.33

    Facility

    $25.21

    $2.99 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 69210

    Office

    $48.53

    Facility

    $26.97

    $1.21 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 69210

    Office

    $53.28

    Facility

    $29.26

    $5.96 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 69210

    Office

    $51.14

    Facility

    $28.53

    $3.82 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 69210

    Office

    $46.10

    Facility

    $27.11

    $1.22 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 69210

    Office

    $47.40

    Facility

    $26.67

    $0.08 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 69210

    Office

    $55.89

    Facility

    $31.27

    $8.57 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 69210

    Office

    $51.58

    Facility

    $28.91

    $4.26 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 69210

    Office

    $54.74

    Facility

    $30.26

    $7.42 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 69210

    Office

    $45.78

    Facility

    $26.11

    $1.54 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 69210

    Office

    $45.54

    Facility

    $26.64

    $1.78 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 69210

    Office

    $44.49

    Facility

    $26.00

    $2.83 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 69210

    Office

    $50.33

    Facility

    $27.33

    $3.01 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 69210

    Office

    $46.97

    Facility

    $26.34

    $0.35 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 69210

    Office

    $49.62

    Facility

    $28.07

    $2.30 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 69210

    Office

    $45.53

    Facility

    $26.52

    $1.79 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 69210

    Office

    $48.01

    Facility

    $27.07

    $0.69 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 69210

    Office

    $48.73

    Facility

    $27.34

    $1.41 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 69210

    Office

    $45.46

    Facility

    $26.32

    $1.86 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 69210

    Office

    $46.21

    Facility

    $25.50

    $1.11 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 69210

    Office

    $44.34

    Facility

    $25.52

    $2.98 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 69210

    Office

    $49.03

    Facility

    $27.12

    $1.71 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 69210

    Office

    $45.28

    Facility

    $26.44

    $2.04 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 69210

    Office

    $47.18

    Facility

    $26.65

    $0.14 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 69210

    Office

    $47.51

    Facility

    $26.88

    $0.19 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 69210

    Office

    $47.28

    Facility

    $26.86

    $0.04 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 69210

    Office

    $47.34

    Facility

    $26.78

    $0.02 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 69210

    Office

    $48.62

    Facility

    $28.06

    $1.30 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 69210

    Office

    $46.22

    Facility

    $26.57

    $1.10 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 69210

    Office

    $45.98

    Facility

    $26.52

    $1.34 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 69210

    Office

    $46.64

    Facility

    $26.28

    $0.68 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 69210

    Office

    $48.01

    Facility

    $27.07

    $0.69 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 69210

    Office

    $46.35

    Facility

    $25.85

    $0.97 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 69210

    Office

    $48.82

    Facility

    $27.02

    $1.50 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 69210

    Office

    $54.16

    Facility

    $28.75

    $6.84 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 69210

    Office

    $45.07

    Facility

    $25.23

    $2.25 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 69210

    Office

    $45.40

    Facility

    $27.41

    $1.92 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 69210

    Office

    $47.16

    Facility

    $26.45

    $0.16 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

69210 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$43.00

$58.24

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$58.241
AL$43.531
AR$43.001
AZ$46.631
CA$49.48–$60.2129
CO$49.131
CT$50.631
DC$53.671
DE$47.321
FL$47.81–$52.393
GA$45.43–$48.702
GU$50.301
HI$50.301
IA$44.171
ID$44.471
IL$46.84–$51.064
IN$44.681
KS$44.131
KY$44.711
LA$44.71–$46.562
MA$48.97–$53.302
MD$48.08–$53.673
ME$44.82–$46.672
MI$45.83–$48.472
MN$46.861
MO$44.15–$46.533
MS$43.581
MT$47.761
NC$45.201
ND$46.371
NE$44.331
NH$48.531
NJ$51.14–$53.282
NM$46.101
NV$47.401
NY$45.78–$55.895
OH$45.541
OK$44.491
OR$46.97–$50.332
PA$45.53–$49.622
PR$48.011
RI$48.731
SC$45.461
SD$46.211
TN$44.341
TX$45.28–$49.038
UT$45.981
VA$46.64–$53.672
VI$48.011
VT$46.351
WA$48.82–$54.162
WI$45.071
WV$45.401
WY$47.161

Explore 69210 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Delaware is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 79 cities and communities in Delaware, including the examples shown here.

Some communities span more than one payment area. Follow a city link to compare all of its mapped areas, or check the service-location ZIP above for an address-level starting point.

Browse all communities in Delaware →

Why are the office and facility amounts different?

For 69210 in Delaware, the physician’s office rate is $47.32 and the facility-setting rate is $26.86: a difference of $20.46.

The calculation uses a different practice-expense RVU for each setting. Both amounts here are physician fee-schedule amounts. The facility figure does not include a hospital’s separate charges, so this comparison does not tell you the total cost of receiving care in each setting.

See the inputs behind this difference →

Use this rate

What is a percentage of Medicare worth?

Turn a percentage into dollars for 69210 in Delaware. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$52.05

$47.32 × 110% = $52.05

A contract may specify another Medicare year or additional adjustments. This is percentage arithmetic on the displayed base rate, not a claim adjudication.

Working with a whole code list?

Compare an offer across your annual code mix, including an older Medicare schedule or flat per-code rates.

Compare your contract offer →

How this local rate is calculated

Each RVU component is multiplied by its own geographic practice cost index (GPCI). The three adjusted components are added, then multiplied by the conversion factor. These are the inputs used for 69210 in Delaware.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

7,595

Code
69210
Physician work
0.59
Practice expense
0.77
Malpractice
0.07

GPCI2026.csv

40

Locality
Delaware
Physician work
1.005
Practice expense
0.988
Malpractice
0.899
Office / nonfacility calculation for 69210 in Delaware
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.59× 1.0050.5929
Practice expense0.77× 0.9880.7608
Malpractice0.07× 0.8990.0629
Total RVUs1.4166
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Delaware$47.32

Open 69210 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work0.591.005
Practice expense0.770.988
Malpractice0.070.899

(0.59 × 1.005 + 0.77 × 0.988 + 0.07 × 0.899) × $33.4009 = $47.32

Facility

Facility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work0.591.005
Practice expense0.150.988
Malpractice0.070.899

(0.59 × 1.005 + 0.15 × 0.988 + 0.07 × 0.899) × $33.4009 = $26.86

The office and facility calculations use their respective practice-expense RVUs. The facility amount here is the physician fee, not a separate hospital or facility bill.

How this rate has changed

69210 · Office / nonfacility

$47.32

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $0.88 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $46.44 to $47.32 (1.9%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $46.44changed to$47.32

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.61 changed to 0.59
    • Practice expense RVU 0.76 changed to 0.77
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.005
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.992 changed to 0.988
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.949 changed to 0.899

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $46.44

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

Explore release dates and calculate this code in an earlier period →

Each row uses the accepted CMS release effective on that date and the same contractor and locality identifiers. Missing rates stay visible. Historical boundaries may differ; verify the service address for an older claim.

Inspect every release and its CMS source
Effective fromOffice / nonfacilityFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$47.32$26.86RVU26D
2026-07-01$47.32$26.86RVU26C
2026-04-01$47.32$26.86RVU26B
2026-01-01$47.32$26.86RVU26A
2025-10-01$46.44$31.04RVU25D
2025-07-01$46.44$31.04RVU25C
2025-04-01$46.44$31.04RVU25B
2025-01-01$46.44$31.04RVU25A

69210 billing questions

When is 69210 reported instead of 69209?

Use 69210 when impacted wax is removed with instruments such as a curette, forceps, or suction under direct visualization. Use 69209 when irrigation or lavage alone removes it.

Can 69210 be billed if the cerumen was not impacted?

No. Removing wax that is not impacted is part of the examination or other service and is not separately reported as 69210.

How are both ears handled for Medicare?

Report one unit when impacted cerumen is removed instrumentally from both ears. Medicare already prices 69210 as bilateral, so modifier 50 does not increase payment.

Is an office visit on the same day separately payable?

A significant, separately identifiable E/M may be reported with modifier 25 on the E/M code. Routine same-day pre- and post-procedure care is included in the 0-day global period.

What if the clinician irrigates first and then finishes with a curette?

When instrumentation is needed to complete removal of impacted cerumen in the same ear, report 69210 rather than reporting both 69209 and 69210 for that ear.

What documentation supports 69210?

Record the impaction, which ear was treated, the instruments used under direct visualization, and the findings after removal.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense, and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.

Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.

RVUs for 69210PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 7,595 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for DelawareGPCI2026.csv, line 40 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet